Expedition cruise lines made a pair of big announcements this week.
Lindblad Expeditions reports that it is naming its new polar expedition cruise ship the National Geographic Endurance. The cruise line has laid the keel for the new vessel, which is due for delivery in the first quarter of 2020, marking the official start of construction. The 126-guest expedition ship will be Polar Class 5 ice rated, for far northern Arctic itineraries, and it will also incorporate a number of environmentally sustainable features, such as a fuel-efficient X-Bow hull shape; expanded fuel and water tanks; and zero-speed stabilizers.
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, meanwhile, announced this week that it will name its second expedition ship, the Hanseatic Inspiration, at a ceremony in Antwerp, Belgium, marking the first time in the city’s history that an ocean-going cruise ship has been christened there. After the ceremony, the Hanseatic Inspiration will make its 15-day inaugural voyage from October 14-October 29, 2019, sailing from Antwerp to Tenerife with stops in Honfleur, and Guernsey, numerous destinations on the Iberian Peninsula, in Morocco, and in Madeira, with prices starting from $9,810 per person, cruise-only.
The Hanseatic Inspiration is part of a pair of new expedition cruise ships for Hapag-Lloyd. The Hanseatic Inspiration will target both English- and German-speaking markets, while its sibling vessel, the Hanseatic Nature, will be primarily German-speaking. Both ships will aim to offer a destination-focused experience with minimal environmental impact.
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